Santa Barbara Education Foundation

Congratulations, Graduates! 🎉 The Santa Barbara Education Foundation is proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 and all that you have achieved. We are honored to support programs that help students discover their passions and prepare for the future.

We wish you success, happiness, and endless possibilities in the years ahead. 🎓✨

As the school year comes to a close, we're reflecting on all the moments that made this year special, from classroom discoveries and student performances to teacher innovations and community partnerships.

Thank you to everyone who helped make a difference in the lives of our students this school year. We wish our Santa Barbara Unified School District community a happy and restful summer! ☀️

Thanks to an SBEF Teacher Grant, Jill Menegon at Harding transformed an outdoor space into a vibrant classroom where students can explore, create, and discover through hands-on learning. From STEM activities to imaginative play, this outdoor learning space supports curiosity and collaboration, especially for multilingual learners and students with diverse learning needs.

We loved visiting this inspiring project and seeing how Teacher Grants help educators bring innovative ideas to life for students across Santa Barbara Unified!

🎶 Why do students keep coming back to our music camps year after year?

For Nick Rail Summer Band Camp Director Stephen Hughes, it’s about more than music. It’s about building confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong love of learning. Students from across Santa Barbara Unified come together each summer to grow as musicians and create lasting memories.

Whether your student is interested in band, strings, or drumline, our music camps offer a fun and supportive environment for young musicians of all skill levels. Scholarships are available, and every registration helps support music education opportunities for students across Santa Barbara Unified schools!

Read the full story and learn more about our summer music camps: sbefoundation.org/summer-music-camps-bring-students-together-through-music

🥁🎺 Drumroll please... Meet the incredible specialists leading this year’s Nick Rail Summer Band Camp! 🎷🎶

Our talented music educators are ready to help students grow their skills, build confidence, and have fun making music this summer. ✨ Scholarships available.

Learn more and register today: https://sbefoundation.org/sbef-summer-programs/

♠️♥️ Great news! Bridge Camp for Youth is now FREE! ♦️♣️ Junior high and high school students are invited to join this fun and engaging summer camp, where students can build strategy, teamwork, and critical thinking skills while learning the game of bridge. No experience needed! Pizza and beverages included.

Please help spread the word to students and families who may be interested in this unique summer opportunity!

For more information: [email protected]

🎻 Meet Elizabeth Callahan, the new co-director of SBEF Summer Strings Camp! A passionate violinist and music educator, Elizabeth teaches at Adams Elementary and mentors students in the Santa Barbara Symphony Youth Ensembles. Elizabeth holds a Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University College of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westmont College.

We’re excited to welcome her this summer as students learn and make music together! 🎶

To learn more and register, visit sbefoundation.org/sbef-summer-programs

Charlie Ortega, director of the La Cumbre Junior High School Drumline and a music educator in Santa Barbara schools for 25 years, was recently selected as one of a distinguished group of music educators from across the country to perform with Saluting America’s Band Directors in the Rose Parade. 🎉🥁

This summer, students have the opportunity to learn directly from Mr. Ortega at SBEF’s Drumline Camp! Open to incoming 6th–9th grade students, the camp is a great way to build percussion skills, confidence, and performance experience. Scholarships are available!

Register for Drumline Camp today!: sbefoundation.org/events/drumline-camp-2026

🎶 Congratulations to our BRAVO! students on their performance at the SBCC String and Wind Festival! BRAVO! is a free, district-sponsored after-school elementary music program providing instrument-specific instruction to 5th and 6th grade students across Santa Barbara Unified.

We’re so proud of these talented young musicians for showcasing their hard work and dedication. Thank you to the educators, families, and supporters who help make music education opportunities like BRAVO possible! 🎻🎺